Double Battle

This article is about the battle variation. For the battle mode found in the Pokémon Cable Club in Generation III or the Pokémon Communication Club Colosseum in Generation IV, see Double Battle (Battle Mode).

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A Double Battle

A Double Battle (Japanese: ダブルバトルDouble Battle), also known as a 2-on-2 battle, is a Pokémon battle featuring up to four Pokémon actively participating at once. Debuting in the games in Generation III, and featuring occasionally in the anime prior to this, they may feature anywhere between two and four Pokémon Trainers. A battle in which either side has more than one Trainer is a Multi Battle.

Contents

In the games

A wild Double Battle

In a Double Battle, two teams of two Pokémon face each other in battle. One Trainer may control both Pokémon on either side of the battle, or two Trainers may cooperate on one or both sides of the battle, each controlling their own Pokémon (meaning that anywhere from two to four Trainers may take part in the same Double Battle). At first, only specific Trainer classes, such as Sis and Bro and Sr. and Jr., would engage the player in Double Battles. However, from Pokémon Emerald to Generation V, two Trainers who see the player at the same time will be engaged in a Double Battle. If the player has only one conscious Pokémon, Trainer classes who will only engage the player in Double Battles will ignore the player and comment that the player should bring two Pokémon to battle them with; two Trainers who see the player at the same time will take turns battling the player in two Single Battles, with the second Trainer approaching and battling the player immediately after the first Trainer is defeated.

A Pokémon battle against a Trainer in Pokémon Colosseum

Vaporeon and Pidgeot fighting against Wingull and Wurmple in Mt. Battle in Pokémon XD

In Pokémon Colosseum all battles are battled as Double Battles, without exception. The only way to engage in a Single Battle in this game is to do so in battle mode. The player does, however, watch a Single Battle between Eagun and Skrub. In Pokémon XD, however, the first two battles to be had in the game, as well as one optional battle at the entrance to the Pokémon HQ Lab, are Single Battles, as are all wild battles.

In Generation IV, there are five situations where the player is accompanied by an NPC. In these situations, all wild Pokémon encounters will be Double Battles against two Pokémon. In such situations, it is impossible to use a Poké Ball to capture a Pokémon unless the other is knocked out first. The NPC Trainer will heal the player's team after every battle.

Generation IV also changes around the order of events slightly. Moves that target multiple Pokémon now resolve in order of the Pokémon's respective Speed stats. Pokémon are also now switched in to replace KO'd Pokémon at the end of a round of combat rather than immediately after a Pokémon is knocked out. While this affects Single Battles, the effect is more noticeable in Double Battles where it is now possible for a Pokémon's move to fail due to a lack of target if both of the opposing Pokémon are knocked out before the attacking Pokémon's turn comes. The change of battle mechanics this way now means that it is impossible, except with entry hazards, to KO a Pokémon that switches in to replace a Pokémon knocked out on the same turn.

In Generation V, many routes contain dark grass, in which the player has the ability to encounter two wild Pokémon at a time, initiating a wild Double Battle. Similar to the wild Double Battles of Generation IV, it is impossible to use a Poké Ball to catch a Pokémon unless the other Pokémon is knocked out first.

The HP of Pokémon will not be displayed numerically on the player's side in Generation III and Generation IV—only the bar will be shown to save screen space. The numeric amount of HP can be toggled with the Start button.

Effects on moves

Several different moves are made specifically for Double Battles, such as Helping Hand. Some others, such as Surf, can have noticeably different effects. Moves that hit multiple Pokémon have their damage reduced by 25%, unless all other Pokémon have fainted at that point.

Aside from moves which only affect the user, all other attacks only target one other Pokémon.

Effects on Abilities

Five Abilities are also adapted especially for Double Battles. These Abilities are:

Plus - If a Pokémon with Plus is in battle on the same side of the field as a Pokémon with Minus, its Special Attack will be boosted by 50%. In Generation V and beyond, the effect is also present if another Pokémon on the same side has Plus.

Minus - If a Pokémon with Minus is in battle on the same side of the field as a Pokémon with Plus, its Special Attack will be boosted by 50%. In Generation V and beyond, the effect is also present if another Pokémon on the same side has Minus.

Lightningrod - If a single-target Electric-type move is used, it will be forced to strike the Pokémon with this Ability, regardless of the Pokémon originally selected as the target and regardless of the move's accuracy. Moves which target multiple Pokémon cannot be redirected. In Generation V and beyond, the move will raise the Special Attack of the Pokémon and deal no damage to it, unless the Pokémon is immune to the attack by nature of being a Ground-type.

Storm Drain - If a single-target Water-type move is used, it will be forced to strike the Pokémon with this Ability, regardless of the Pokémon originally selected as the target and regardless of the move's accuracy. Moves which target multiple Pokémon cannot be redirected. In Generation V and beyond, the move will raise the Special Attack of the Pokémon and deal no damage to it.

Telepathy - A Pokémon with this Ability will avoid damage from any moves used by its allies, whether they directly target it or target it as well as opponents.

After the release of Ruby and Sapphire, Double Battles were seen in the anime more often. The first took place in All in a Day's Wurmple. Forrester Franklin introduced the concept to Ash, and they had a battle that Ash won. As in the games, Ash's Gym Battle against Tate and Liza was a Double Battle. Additionally, in order to qualify for the finals of the Ever Grande Conference, competitors must win three Double Battles in the preliminaries. Double Battles also appeared in the seventh movie, Destiny Deoxys.

In the FireRed & LeafGreen chapter, two of the three returning lead characters fight between themselves in a Double Battle for the first time in the Battle Path of Ultima, and eventually result in a tie when they reach the destination at the same time (the platforms they fight on may push them forward or back depending on whether they're attacking or taking one).